Excalibur
The Excalibur Hotel and Casino is one of the older major gambling venues in Las Vegas, having opened in 1990, at a cost of $290 million. Although it is one of the cheaper casino resorts in the city, it can boast nearly 4,000 rooms, making it one of the world’s largest hotels. It also has a reputation as one of the most family-friendly venues in Vegas, thanks to its castle theme, affordable accommodation and ideal location. (3850 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, United States)
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![Excalibur](/images/excalibur.jpg)
Location
The Excalibur is one of the most convenient casino resorts in the city. It is situated a mile from Interstate 15, less than 3 miles from McCarran International Airport and close to a number of other attractions. Like the Las Vegas Boulevard, the MGM Grand and Tropicana Avenue.
Pedestrian bridges and spacious sidewalks make it easy to access the Excalibur. There is also a monorail in front for the hotel, taking guests to the Luxor or Mandalay Bay.
The Casino
![Excalibur casino](/images/excalibur-casino.jpg)
The casino at the Excalibur is one of the most popular gambling venues in the city, offering more than 100,000 square feet of gaming. There are over 1,000 slots machines available, made up of a mix of classic and modern titles, such as Casablanca, Jurassic Park, and Game of Thrones. Stakes range from 1c to $1, making it an ideal location for smaller gamblers. Although there is also a High Stakes Slots room and the site hosts regular slots tournaments, in which the stakes can go up to $100.
The casino floor covers most of the popular table game varieties, including Baccarat, Roulette, Craps and Blackjack, as well as three-card poker, Texas Hold ‘Em, Big Six and Keno. One welcome customer-friendly initiative is the daily tutorials offered by casino staff. They teach newcomers how to play the most popular games, including poker.
Speaking of which, there is a welcoming poker room. It offers a number of low limit games, along with tournaments that have some of the smallest buy-ins you will find in Vegas. It is an ideal place for poker newcomers to practice their skills, as the competition is fairly weak and the atmosphere is friendly. Another handy bonus is the fact that casino goers who are part of the MGM ‘M Life’ Rewards Program can use their M Life cards at the Excalibur, as at one time it was part of the MGM organisation.
Accommodation
![Excalibur hotel](/images/excalibur-hotel.jpg)
Compared to its Vegas rivals of a similar size, the Excalibur offers much cheaper hotel accommodation. While, in general, this means that the room sizes are smaller than you would find at the MGM Grand or the Cosmopolitan, it does offer an affordable option for families and those on a smaller budget. That said, there is still the option to stay in luxury by choosing the larger Resort Luxury Suite or even the Royal 2 Bedroom Luxury Suite. There is a mandatory resort fee for anyone staying at the hotel, and this gives you Wifi, pool and gym access.
Restaurants
Visitors who want to take a break from the casino floor have a lot of dining options to choose from. They range from the Baja Fresh counter-service eaterie on the casino floor, to the Excalibur Buffet. The Excalibur Food Court includes many well known fast-food chains such as Cinnabon, Pizza Hut and Krispy Kreme.
The most distinctive dining experience at the Excalibur is a form of dinner theater called The Tournament of Kings. Held in a jousting arena, it is an entertaining and rowdy spectacle featuring knights jousting and other Medieval-themed events.
Entertainment
This may be a casino complex, but offers a variety of leisure activities that are more impressive than many holiday resorts. The Excalibur has four swimming pools, a huge spa that provides body wraps, manicures, massages and other health treatments. A fitness center that caters for gym enthusiasts, while the Fun Dungeon is packed with video games and carnival attractions for kids.
Conclusion
The Excalibur may not have the same air of luxury as some top end Vegas casino resorts, but it offers a cheaper alternative to the more expensive venues. This makes it ideal for families and those on a budget. Yet the Excalibur does not compromise on its gaming provision, offering a huge selection of games and a relaxed setting that is welcoming for newcomers. For South African visitors who want to get a taste of Vegas in a fun, informal environment, the Excalibur is ideal, and offers a good base to explore the casinos of the south side of the city.